Components for articles and methods of making components from embroidered beads

ABSTRACT

Beads may be stitched to a substrate layer and then fused to form structures including foam midsoles, foam pads, and other foam structures. Beads may be embroidered to multiple substrate layers and then folded or stacked together to form a preform used in a mold to form a midsole.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/551,267, filed on Aug. 26, 2019 and entitled “Components for Articlesand Methods of Making Components from Embroidered Beads,” whichapplication is a division of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/795,480, filedon Oct. 27, 2017, which application is a non-provisional patentapplication claiming priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No.62/443,527, which was filed on Jan. 6, 2017 and entitled “Articles withEmbroidered Beads and Methods of Making”, the entire disclosures ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Embroidery is a traditional method of decorating, tailoring, mending,patching, or reinforcing textile materials by sewing with a needle andstitching material. Hand-embroidered goods date back as late as theWarring States period in China. During the industrial revolution, theinvention of the sewing machine and dedicated embroidery machinesexpanded the use of the technique. Modern embroidery techniques mayutilize machine-readable code to autonomously create an embroiderypattern on a sheet of textile materials. Textile materials includefabrics such as cotton, wool or silk, as well as leather, foam, polymersheets, and synthetic equivalents. On the textile materials, a number ofstitch techniques (such as the chain stitch, the buttonhole or blanketstitch, the running stitch, the satin stitch, or the cross stitch) maybe used depending on the purpose of the embroidery. The stitchingtechniques may be used in combination to form a variety of set patterns.The stitching patterns may be decorative, for example, the pattern mayform a flower or series of flowers. Alternatively, the stitching may bestructural, such as stitching along the edges of a garment to reinforcethe seams. In further cases, the stitching may be both decorative andfunctional, such as the use of a floral pattern used to reinforce apatch.

Typically, a thread or yarn is used as the stitching material andstitched into the textile. Commonly, the thread or yarn may be made ofcotton or rayon, as well as traditional materials like wool, linen, orsilk. However, embroidery may also sew in dissimilar materials to thetextile, usually for decorative purposes. For example, thread createdout of precious metals such as gold or silver may be embroidered withinmore traditional fabrics such as silk. Additional elements (such asbeads, quills, sequins, pearls or entire strips of metal) may be sewn induring embroidery. These elements may be sewn in along with yarn orthread using a variety of stitching techniques, depending on the desiredplacement of the elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments can be better understood with reference to the followingdrawings and description. The components in the figures are notnecessarily to scale, with emphasis instead being placed uponillustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in thefigures, like reference numerals designate corresponding partsthroughout the different views.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of article offootwear;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a method ofembroidering beads on to an article of apparel;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart depicting an embodiment of a method of making afoam member;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart depicting an embodiment of a method of making amultilayer foam member;

FIG. 5 is a schematic top-down view of a bead-substrate assembly,according to an embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a multilayer assembly, according to anembodiment;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a plurality of a multilayer assembly beingfolded, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a multilayer assembly in a stackedformation, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a plurality of multilayer assembly,according to an embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a plurality multilayer assembly in astacked formation, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a schematic top-down view of a multilayer assembly stackedtogether, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a multilayer assembly ofFIG. 19 , according to an embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a schematic side view of a multilayer assembly stackedtogether, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a schematic isometric view of the multilayer assembly fusedtogether;

FIG. 15 is a flow chart depicting an embodiment of a method of making afoam member;

FIG. 16 is a flow chart depicting an embodiment of a method of making afoam member;

FIG. 17 is a schematic view of an embodiment of an article with amultilayer assembly;

FIG. 18 is a schematic view of the article of FIG. 17 after themultilayer assembly has been folded together; and

FIG. 19 is a schematic view of a process for making a customizedarticle, according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments are related to the application of one or more sequins toan article. As used herein, the term “article” refers broadly toarticles of footwear, articles of apparel (e.g., clothing), as well asaccessories and/or equipment. Articles of footwear include, but are notlimited to, hiking boots, soccer shoes, football shoes, sneakers,running shoes, cross-training shoes, rugby shoes, basketball shoes,baseball shoes as well as other kinds of shoes. Moreover, in someembodiments, components may be configured for various kinds ofnon-sports-related footwear, including, but not limited to, slippers,sandals, high-heeled footwear, loafers as well as any other kinds offootwear. Articles of apparel include, but are not limited to, socks,pants, shorts, shirts, sweaters, undergarments, hats, gloves, as well asother kinds of garments. Accessories include scarves, bags, purses,backpacks, as well as other accessories. Equipment may include variouskinds of sporting equipment including, but not limited to, bats, balls,various sporting gloves (e.g., baseball mitts, football gloves, skigloves, etc.), golf clubs, as well as other kinds of sporting equipment.

To assist and clarify the subsequent description of various embodiments,various terms are defined herein. Unless otherwise indicated, thefollowing definitions apply throughout this specification (including theclaims). For consistency and convenience, directional adjectives areemployed throughout this detailed description corresponding to theillustrated embodiments.

For the purposes of general reference, an article is any item designedto be worn by or on a user, or act as an accessory. In some embodiments,an article may be an article of footwear, such as a shoe, sandal, boot,etc. In other embodiments, an article may be an article of apparel, suchas a garment, including shirts, pants, jackets, socks, undergarments, orany other conventional item. In still other embodiments, an article maybe an accessory such as a hat, glove, or bag worn by the wearer.

For purposes of general reference, as illustrated in FIG. 1 article offootwear 1000 may be divided into three regions: forefoot region 1001,midfoot region 1003, and heel region 1005. Forefoot region 1001 may begenerally associated with the toes and joints connecting the metatarsalswith the phalanges. Midfoot region 1003 may be generally associated withthe arch of a foot, including the instep. Likewise, heel region 1005 or“hindfoot” may be generally associated with the heel of a foot,including the calcaneus bone. For purposes of this disclosure, thefollowing directional terms, when used in reference to an article offootwear, shall refer to the article of footwear when sitting in anupright position, with the sole facing the ground, that is, as it wouldbe positioned when worn by a wearer standing on a substantially levelsurface.

The term “longitudinal,” as used throughout this detailed descriptionand in the claims, refers to a direction extending along the length of acomponent. For example, a longitudinal direction of an article offootwear extends from forefoot region 1001 to heel region 1003 ofarticle of footwear 1000. The term “forward” or “front” is used to referto the general direction in which the toes of a foot point, and the term“rearward” or “back” is used to refer to the opposite direction, i.e.,the direction in which the heel of the foot is facing.

The term “lateral direction,” as used throughout this detaileddescription and in the claims, refers to a side-to-side directionextending along the width of a component. In other words, the lateraldirection may extend between medial side 1007 and lateral side 1009 ofarticle of footwear 1000, with lateral side 1009 of article of footwear1000 being the surface that faces away from the other foot, and medialside 1007 being the surface that faces toward the other foot.

The term “vertical,” as used throughout this detailed description and inthe claims, refers to a direction generally perpendicular to both thelateral and longitudinal directions. For example, in cases where anarticle of footwear is planted flat on a ground surface, the verticaldirection may extend from the ground surface upward. It will beunderstood that each of these directional adjectives may be applied toindividual components of an article of footwear. The term “upward”refers to the vertical direction heading away from a ground surface,while the term “downward” refers to the vertical direction headingtoward the ground surface. Similarly, the terms “top,” “upper,” andother similar terms refer to the portion of an object substantiallyfurthest from the ground in a vertical direction, and the terms“bottom,” “lower,” and other similar terms refer to the portion of anobject substantially closest to the ground in a vertical direction.

The term “side,” as used in this specification and in the claims, refersto any portion of a component facing generally in a lateral, medial,forward, or rearward direction, as opposed to an upward or downwarddirection. The term “lateral side” refers to any component facing ingeneral toward the lateral direction. The term “medial side” refers toany component facing in general toward the medial direction.

It will be understood that the forefoot region, the midfoot region, andthe heel region are only intended for purposes of description and arenot intended to demarcate precise regions of an article of footwear. Forexample, in some cases, one or more of the regions may overlap.Likewise, the medial side and the lateral side are intended to representgenerally two sides, rather than precisely demarcating an article offootwear into two halves. In addition, the forefoot region, the midfootregion, and the heel region, as well as the medial side and the lateralside, may also be applied to individual components of an article offootwear, including a sole structure, an upper, a lacing system, and/orany other component associated with the article.

Article of footwear 1000 may include upper 1002 and sole or “solestructure” 1004, which define an internal cavity between the upper andsole. The “interior” of an article of footwear refers to space in thisinternal cavity that is occupied by a wearer's foot when the article offootwear is worn. The “inner side” or “inside” of an element refers tothe face of that element that is (or will be) oriented toward theinternal cavity in a completed article of footwear. The “outer side,”“outside,” or “exterior of” an element refers to the face of thatelement that is (or will be) oriented away from the internal cavity inthe completed article of footwear 1000. In some cases, the inner side ofan element may have other elements between that inner side and theinterior in the completed article of footwear 1000. Similarly, an outerside of an element may have other elements between that outer side andthe space external to the completed article of footwear 1000. Further,the terms “inward” and “inwardly” shall refer to the direction towardthe interior of the article of footwear, and the terms “outward” and“outwardly” shall refer to the direction toward the exterior of articleof footwear 1000.

Upper 1002 provides a covering for the wearer's foot that comfortablyreceives and securely positions the foot with respect to the solestructure. Upper 1002 may be made from any suitable material orpluralities of materials including, but not limited to, nylon, cotton,natural leather, synthetic leather, natural rubber, or synthetic rubber.In general, upper 1002 includes opening 1012 that provides entry for thefoot into an interior cavity of upper 1002 in heel region 1005. Upper1002 may be of a variety of styles depending on factors such as desireduse and required ankle mobility. For example, an athletic shoe withupper 1002 having a “low-top” configuration extending below the anklethat is shaped to provide high mobility for an ankle. However, upper1002 could be configured as a “high-top” upper extending above thewearer's ankle for basketball or other activities, or as a “mid-top”configuration extending to about the wearer's ankle. Furthermore, upper1002 may also include non-athletic shoes, such as dress shoes, loafers,sandals, and work boots. Upper 1002 may also include tongue 1014 thatprovides cushioning and support across the instep of the foot. Upper1002 may also include collar 1016 within opening 1012, collar 1016 mayinclude an elastomeric or tacky material to allow the opening to stretchand conform to the wearer's ankle. Upper 1002 may include heel counter1018. Heel counter 1018 may be disposed over upper 1002's outer surfaceor within the upper on upper 1002's interior surface. Upper 1002 mayalso include other known features in the art, including heel tabs,loops, etc. Furthermore, upper 1002 may include toe cage or box 1020 inthe forefront region. Even further, upper 1002 may include logos,trademarks, and instructions for care. Upper 1002, and the componentsfor upper 1002, may be manufactured from conventional materials (e.g.,woven or nonwoven textiles, leather, synthetic leather, rubber, polymerfoams, etc.). The specific materials utilized are generally selected toimpart wear-resistance, flexibility, air-permeability, moisture control,and comfort to the article of footwear.

Upper 1002 may include a fastening provision on a fastening region ofthe upper. For example, the fastening provision may be lacing system1022, or “lace” applied at a fastening region of upper 1002. Otherembodiments of fastening provisions, include, but are not limited to,laces, cables, straps, buttons, zippers as well as any other provisionsknown in the art for fastening articles. For a lacing system, thefastening region comprises plurality of eyelets 1024 on the upper, whichis comprised of a series of individual eyelets 1026 on medial side 1007and lateral side 1009 of upper 1002 extending up to collar 1016 in upper1002. Additionally, the lacing system may include lace cage 1028. Inother embodiments, the fastening region may comprise one or more tabs,loops, hooks, D-rings, hollows, or any other provisions known in the artfor fastening regions.

Sole structure 1004 is positioned between a foot of a wearer and theground, and may incorporate various component elements. For example,sole structure 1004 may include one or more of inner sole component or“insole” 1006, a middle sole element or “midsole” 1008, and an outersole element or “outsole” 1010. Insole 1006 may take the form of asockliner adjacent the wearer's foot to provide a comfortable contactsurface for the wearer's foot. It will be understood that an insole maybe optional. Further, midsole 1008 may directly serve as a cushion andsupport for the foot. In addition, outsole 1010 may be configured tocontact the ground surface. Insole 1006, midsole 1008, and outsole 1010may be assembled together with insole 1006, forming the interior of solestructure 1004, while outsole 1010 forms the exterior. Insole 1006,midsole 1008, and outsole 1010 may be combined into a single structure.Upper 1002 and sole structure 1004 may be coupled using any conventionalor suitable manner, such as adhesion or bonding, via a woven connection,via one or more types of fasteners, etc. Additionally, sole structure1004 and upper 1002 may be combined together in a single unitaryconstruction.

Sole structure 1004 may contact a ground surface and have variousfeatures to deal with the ground surface. Examples of ground surfacesinclude, but are not limited to, indoor ground surfaces (such as woodand concrete floors), pavement, natural turf, synthetic turf, dirt, aswell as other surfaces. In some cases, the lower portions of solestructure 1004 may include provisions for traction, including, but notlimited to, traction elements, studs, and/or cleats. In some cases,outsole 1010 is secured to a lower surface of midsole 1008. It will beunderstood that in other embodiments, outsole 1010 may be optional. Forexample, midsole 1008 may be configured to contact the ground surfacedirectly. Furthermore, midsole 1008 could be provided with varioustraction elements, studs, and/or cleats to contact the ground surface.Additionally, portions of both midsole 1008 and outsole 1010 can beconfigured to contact a ground surface.

Sole structure 1004 may be made of a variety of any suitable material orpluralities of materials for a variety of functions. For example, one ormore components of sole structure 1004, such as the midsole, may beformed from a polymer foam (e.g., a polyurethane or ethylvinylacetatefoam) material that attenuates ground-reaction forces (i.e., providescushioning) during walking, running, and other ambulatory activities. Inaddition, the components of a sole may also include gels, fluid-filledchambers, plates, moderators, inserts, or other elements that furtherattenuate forces, enhance stability, or influence the motions of thefoot. In addition, the other components may have specific surfaceproperties, such as an outsole being made from a durable material, suchas carbon or blown rubber, which is further textured to impart traction.Furthermore, the insole may be made from a waterproof material such as asynthetic like ethylvinylacetate to prevent moisture from seeping intothe sole.

Dissimilar materials described herein may be attached by fusing orwelding. As utilized herein, the terms “fusing” and “welding” (andvariants thereof) are defined as a securing technique between twoelements that involves a softening or melting of the material of atleast one of the elements such that the materials of the elements aresecured to each other when cooled. Similarly, the term “weld,” orvariants thereof, is defined as the bond, link, or structure that joinstwo elements through a process that involves a softening or melting ofmaterial within at least one of the elements such that the elements aresecured to each other when cooled. Welding may involve the melting orsoftening of two components such that the materials from each componentintermingle with each other, that is, the materials may diffuse across aboundary layer (or “heat-affected zone”) between the materials, and aresecured together when cooled. Alternatively, welding may involve themelting or softening of a material in a first component such that thematerial extends into or infiltrates the structure of a secondcomponent, for example, infiltrating crevices or cavities in the secondcomponent or extending around or bonding with filaments or fibers in thesecond component to secure the components together when cooled. Thus,welding of two components together may occur when material from one orboth of the components melts or softens. Accordingly, a weldablematerial, such as a polymer material, may be provided in one or both ofthe components. Additionally, welding does not generally involve the useof stitching or adhesives, but involves directly bonding components toeach other with heat. In some situations, however, stitching oradhesives may be utilized to supplement the weld or the joining of thecomponents through welding. Components that have been welded togetherwill be understood to be “fused” together.

In addition, for purposes of this disclosure, the term “fixedlyattached” shall refer to two components joined in a manner such that thecomponents may not be readily separated (for example, without destroyingone or both of the components). Exemplary modalities of fixed attachmentmay include joining with permanent adhesive, rivets, stitches, nails,staples, welding or other thermal bonding, or other joining techniques.In addition, two components may be “fixedly attached” by virtue of beingintegrally formed, for example, in a molding process.

For purposes of this disclosure, the term “removably attached” shallrefer to the joining of two components in a manner such that the twocomponents are secured together but may be readily detached from oneanother. Examples of removable attachment mechanisms may include hookand loop fasteners, friction fit connections, interference fitconnections, threaded connectors, cam-locking connectors, and other suchreadily detachable connectors. Similarly, “removably disposed” shallrefer to the assembly of two components in a non-permanent fashion.

The term “strand” includes a single fiber, filament, or monofilament, aswell as an ordered assemblage of textile fibers having a high ratio oflength to diameter and normally used as a unit (e.g., slivers, roving,single yarns, plies yarns, cords, braids, ropes, etc.).

The term “fiber” as used herein refers to a fundamental component usedin the assembly of yarns and fabrics. Generally, a fiber is a componentthat has a length dimension that is much greater than its diameter orwidth. This term includes ribbon, strip, staple, and other forms ofchopped, cut or discontinuous fiber and the like having a regular orirregular cross section. “Fiber” also includes a plurality of any one ofthe above or a combination of the above. Examples of materials that maybe utilized include cotton, polyester, nylon, polypropylene,polyethylene, acrylics, wool, acetate, polyacrylonitrile, andcombinations thereof. Natural fibers also include cellulosic fibers(e.g., cotton, bamboo) or protein fibers (e.g., wool, silk, andsoybean).

The term “filament” as used herein refers to a fiber of indefinite orextreme length such as found naturally in silk. This term also refers tomanufactured fibers produced by, among other things, extrusionprocesses. Individual filaments making up a fiber may have any one of avariety of cross sections that include round, serrated or crenular,bean-shaped or others.

The term “yarn” as used herein refers to a continuous strand of textilefibers, filaments, or material in a form suitable for weaving, orotherwise intertwining to form a textile fabric. Yarn can occur in avariety of forms that include a spun yarn containing staple fibersusually bound together by twist; a multi-filament yarn containing manycontinuous filaments or strands; or a mono-filament yarn, which consistsof a single strand.

The term “composite yarn” refers to a yarn prepared from two or moreyarns (or “ends”), which can be the same or different. Composite yarncan occur in a variety of forms wherein the two or more ends are indiffering orientations relative to one another, so long as the finalcomposite yarn containing the two or more ends is stably assembled(i.e., will remain intact unless forcibly separated or disassembled).The two or more ends can, for example, be parallel, wrapped one aroundthe other(s), twisted together, or combinations of any or all of these,as well as other orientations, depending on the properties of thecomposite yarn desired.

FIG. 2 demonstrates an exemplary embodiment of a method of embroideringbeads on to a wearable article 1100, also known as “the article” or“article of apparel” or article 1100. In some embodiments, the articlemay be an article of footwear, or an element of an article of footwear,such as the upper. In other embodiments, the article may be a garment orclothing, such as pants, socks, shirts, jackets, dresses, skirts,underwear, brassieres, supportive athletic garments, shorts, vests, orany other form of clothing known in the art. In still other embodiments,the article may be an accessory worn by a user such as hats, gloves, andbags, or any other accessory known in the art. In yet anotherembodiment, a backer plate may be used to form the outline of thearticle. In the specific illustrated example of FIG. 2 , article 1100 isupper 1002 of article of footwear 1000.

Article 1100 includes at least an element made of a textile. In someembodiments, the textile is a fabric made of material such as silk,wool, or cotton. In other embodiments, the textile is made of syntheticequivalents, such as polyvinyl acetate (PVA), thermoplastic polyurethane(TPU), or ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). In general, a fabric comprises aseries of yarns, fibers, filaments, or strands in a networked patternmade by weaving, knitting, spreading, crocheting, or bonding the yarns,fibers, filaments, or strands together. In still other embodiments, thetextile may be leather, foam, synthetic equivalents of leather, orsingle sheet materials such as plastic or vinyl sheets. In still furtherembodiments, article 1100 may be a backing layer comprising of amaterial able to dissolve or melt as needed, such as TPU, PVA, or EVA.

In bead embroidery, a bead is sewn to the textile (or any othersubstrate layer) using a thread and needle to stitch a bead to thetextile element of the article 1100 as illustrated in an exemplaryembodiment in FIG. 2 . As illustrated by FIG. 2 , bead 1102 may beembroidered by sewing bead 1102 with needle 1104 and thread 1106 to thetextile element of article 1100. Thread 1106 may be any form of strand,yarn, fiber filament, or strand mentioned herein including materialssuch as PVA, EVA, or TPU. Needle 1104 may be a hand needle, or machineneedle. In some embodiments, the embroidery is done using embroiderymachine 1101. In some embodiments, the machine and method ofembroidering is as discussed by Kurihara, U.S. Pat. No. 5,481,993,issued Jan. 9, 1996, and titled “Method and Apparatus for EmbroideringBeads”; or as discussed by Sik, Korean Patent Number 100799759, issuedFeb. 2, 2008, and titled “Bead Feeding Device for Embroidery Machine”;or as discussed in Jiangming et al., Chinese Patent Number 203439704,issued Feb. 19, 2014, and titled “Bead Diamond Embroidery Machine,” theentirety of each these applications being herein incorporated byreference.

The embodiments may generally use any of the methods, techniques,processes, systems, machines, and/or equipment disclosed in Berns etal., U.S. Patent Application Publication Number 2016/0316856, publishedNov. 3, 2016, and titled “Footwear Upper Including Strand Layers”; Bernset al., U.S. Patent Application Publication Number 2016/0316855,published Nov. 3, 2016, and titled “Footwear Upper Including VariableStitch Density”; and Berns et al., Patent Application Publication Number2015/0272274, published Oct. 1, 2015, and titled “Footwear IncludingTextile Element,” the entirety of each application being hereinincorporated by reference.

In some embodiments, such as the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 2 ,embroidery machine 1101 may use continuous feed 1108 to sew plurality ofbeads 1110 on to article 1100. FIG. 2 is a schematic of an embroideryprocess, with only selected elements such as the tip of embroiderymachine 1101 shown. In other embodiments, embroidery machine 1101 mayuse a bead hopper to feed plurality of beads 1110 on to article 1100then sew them in place. In some embodiments, only a single type of beadis sewn using a machine. In other embodiments, multiple types of beadsmay be sewn at the same time using the same feeder and/or hopper. Instill other embodiments, an embroidery machine may have multiple feedsand/or multiple hoppers to embroider multiple beads at the same time.

The method of stitching used to attach the bead may vary. In someembodiments, the bead is stitched via an opening in the bead. In otherembodiments, the bead is stitched through the bead material. In someembodiments, embroidery machine 1101 stitches thread using needle 1104via openings in the fabric comprising article 1100. In otherembodiments, the needle creates its own opening in the article andstitches the bead and thread via the resulting holes. During thestitching process demonstrated in exemplary FIG. 2 , an initial stitchpierces article 1100 or an opening in the weave of fabric of article1100. Bead 1102 is then threaded on to thread 1106 by embroidery machine1101 from continuous feed 1108, and secured to article 1100 by a secondbacker stitch closing a loop of thread 1106 through article 1100 inplace to form fixed bead 1112. In some embodiments, each individual beadis individually stitched to the textile. In other embodiments, multiplebeads may be stitched to the textile as a group. In still otherembodiments, multiple beads may come from multiple feeds and/or multiplehoppers and be stitched together as a group. In further embodiments,multiple beads may come from multiple feeds or multiple hoppers and beadstitched together individually. In yet another embodiment, a combinationof single bead stitching and multiple bead stitching may be used.

The technique of stitching the bead to the article may vary. In someembodiments, the type of stitches used may include chain stitch, doublechain stitch, the buttonhole or blanket stitch, the running stitch, thesatin stitch, the cross stitch, or any other stitch technique known inthe art. In other embodiments, a combination of known stitch techniquesmay be used. In further embodiments, these techniques may be usedindividually or in combination to stitch either individual beads orgroups of beads to the article. In still further embodiments, thesetechniques may be used individually or in combination to stitch acombination of individual beads and groups of beads to the article.

The stitches may form a pattern. This pattern may take the form ofindividual beads or groups of beads or a combination of individual beadsand groups of beads. When the stitching is performed by a machine, themachine may use a computer-generated program to control the stitching,including the locations of the stitching relative to the textile, aswell as how and which beads to feed, how to stitch the beads, and thetechnique of stitching used. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 2 ,individual beads comprising fixed bead 1112, bead 1114, and bead 1118are sewn to article 1100 in a pattern forming a line. In otherembodiments, the pattern may comprise a curve, ovals, or other geometricshapes or combination of shapes, characters such as letters or numbers,symbols such as a trademark, as well as additional patterns disclosedherein. In some embodiments, the thread may continuously stitch thearticle with beads being inserted only where required by the pattern. Inother embodiments, the thread may be discontinuous between beads withinthe pattern.

Although the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 2 depicted beads embroidereddirectly to the upper of an article, similar methods may be used forembroidering beads to any substrate layer, including substrate layersthat may be utilized to form soles and other structures, as discussed infurther detail below.

In alternative embodiments, the bead may also be attached to the textilevia bead crocheting, bead knitting, or bead weaving in addition to, orin place of bead embroidery, either by hand or by using a machine suchas an embroidery machine.

In differing embodiments, beads may vary. The term “bead” may be knownby several alternative names, such as pearls, bobbles, or even in someforms be referred to as sequins, spangles, paillettes, or diamantes. Ingeneral, a bead refers to any object pierced by a thread with the threadeither passing through a material portion of the object or through apre-formed hole or opening. In some embodiments, the beads aremanufactured with a hole or aperture. In other embodiments, a hole oraperture is created by piercing or drilling the bead, such as with aneedle. Commonly, beads are oval in at least one dimension, includingshapes such as oviods and cylinders. However, beads may be known in anyknown shape including, but not limited to, cubes, rectangular prisms,tetrahedrons, and so forth.

The beads embroidered may include a variety of bead shapes, sizes, andcolors. The beads' shape may be oval, hollow, cylindrical, or the beadsmay be bugle beads, chatons, crystal beads, gem beads, faceted beads,delica beads, seed beads, rounded beads, or any other shape known in theart. In some embodiments, the beads may take the form of microbeads witha size less than 2 mm, with sizes including 1 mm and 2 mm. In someembodiments, the beads may be larger than 2 mm. In further embodimentscomprising microbeads, the microbeads may be attached to the article bystitching through the surface of the bead in addition to or in place ofthreading the bead. In some embodiments, microbeads may be known ashigh-density beads, and contain a high relative density and or hardness.

In some embodiments, the beads may be colored, using any known shade orhue by mixing in appropriate pigments to the bead material. In someembodiments, the beads may be colored after manufacturing. In someembodiments, beads with differing properties such as hardness, density,abrasion, or structural support, may be colored in distinct ways. Inother embodiments, beads with differing properties such as hardness,density, abrasion, structural support, may be colored in similar ways.

The beads may be embroidered such that they are perpendicular to article1100, or are parallel to article 1100. Perpendicular beads are threadedsuch that the thread within the bead is perpendicular to article 1100.Parallel beads are threaded such that the thread within the bead isparallel to article 1100. The beads may also be embroidered to thearticle with a combination of parallel and perpendicular beads.

A backing layer, or backer layer, may be used during the embroideryprocess. A backing layer, in general, provides a layer behind article1100 to give the embroidery machine a better working surface. In someembodiments, the backing layer holds article 1100 in place. In otherembodiments, the backing layer provides an inner layer for the wearer toprevent itching or abrasion. In further embodiments, the backing layermay prevent an elastic or otherwise stretchable material from distortingduring processing. In some embodiments, the backing layer is permanentlyattached to article 1100. In other embodiments, the backing layer isremovable. In still other embodiments, the backing layer may bedissolved from the article. In further embodiments, the backing layermay be melted into the article. In some embodiments, the backing layeris a single piece. In other embodiments, the backing layer requiresmultiple pieces, each with varying characteristics. It may beappreciated that in some cases, beads may be directly embroidered to abacking layer without any intermediate textile layer.

The material of the beads may vary. In some embodiments, the materialmay be of a polymer material of varying hardness such as polyvinylacetate (PVA), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), polyethylene, orethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). In other embodiments, the beads may bemade of rigid materials such as ceramic or acrylic. In some embodiments,the bead may be a blend of a polymer material with an additive such asnitrile rubber, such as an EVA blend with nitrile rubber. In someembodiments, the beads may be made of a blend material such that thehardness may be controlled by the relative blend of nitrile rubber. Inother embodiments, the relative hardness may be controlled bycontrolling the relative weight of the beads from materials includingPVA, TPU, and/or EVA as well as nitrile rubber. In still othermaterials, a combination of bead materials may be used, includingcombining ceramic or acrylic beads with polymer or polymer blend beads.In some embodiments, the polymer or polymer blend material is fusible orweldable. In some embodiments, the polymer or polymer blend material isin the form of foam.

In various embodiments, the beads may be made from a foam. In certainembodiments, the beads made from a polymer or polymer blend by mixingpellets of the polymer into a bead maker, melting the pellets, andblowing the melt to form foam into the desired shape. The blown shapemay be any shape known in the art. In some embodiments, the beads arenot blown. In further embodiments, the beads may be blown to the samesize regardless of the amount of pellets used, allowing pellet weight tocontrol bead density as well as hardness. For example, using fewerpellets than standard may decrease the bead density and relativehardness of the bead, while using more pellets may increase the beaddensity and relative hardness of the bead. In further embodiments, thebeads may be partially blown rather than blown to the full size. Forpartially blown beads, the bead may be as much as 95% blown. In otherembodiments, the beads are not blown at all. In some embodiments, thebeads may be blown after the melt has begun to cool, while in otherembodiments the beads are melted immediately. In some embodiments, allfoam beads are of identical hardness and density and of a consistentdegree of blowing. In other embodiments, the foam beads may be a mixtureof various hardnesses and densities as well as degree of blowing.Blowing the bead may affect the ability to melt or fuse, as well as thedensity and hardness.

The beads embroidered may include fusible beads such as Nabbi, Hama,Fuse, Melting, Perler, or Pyssla beads as well as their genericequivalents. Such beads, further known herein by the name “fusiblebeads,” are generally cylindrical beads, in the shape of a bugle bead.The opening in a fusible bead is generally relatively large compared tothe thickness of the bead, but may vary along with the height of thebead. However, in some embodiments, the beads may vary in shape to anyother shape known in the art. Fusible beads are known as such becausethey may melt or fuse when thermally processed. Fusible beads may meltor “fuse” between themselves, to thread 1106, to article 1100, to anexternal element to the article, between two dissimilar materials whenthermally processed, or any combination of two or more methods offusing. In some embodiments, fusible beads may melt or fuse to form aglue, between each other, to the thread, to an article, or between twosurfaces. Such fusible beads may be made from polymers or polymer blendsincluding TPU, PVA, EVA, and/or nitrile rubber as well as those underthe labels Nabbi, Hama, Fuse, Melting, Perler, or Pyssla beads.

Threads used for embroidery may be used from a variety of materials. Forexample, thread may be made of polymer materials including nylon,polyethylene, TPU, PVA, or EVA as well as Dyneema fiber made fromultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. The thread may also include ablend of polymer materials and may include nitrile rubber. The threadalso may be made from more conventional materials including cotton,silk, or other natural fibers disclosed herein. The thread also may bemade from any known synthetic equivalent. In some embodiments, exposingthe thread to heat or pressure may cause the thread to melt or fuse. Inother embodiments, exposing the thread to heat or pressure may cause thethread to dissolve. In still other embodiments, the thread may dissolvewhen exposed to a solvent, such as acid or water.

The materials of the articles herein may vary. Articles include at leastan element made of a textile. In some embodiments, the textile is afabric made of material such as silk, wool, or cotton. In otherembodiments, the textile is made of synthetic equivalents, such aspolyvinyl acetate (PVA), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), or ethylenevinyl acetate (EVA). In general, a fabric comprises a series of yarns,fibers, filaments, or strands in a networked pattern made by weaving,knitting, spreading, crocheting, or bonding the yarns, fibers,filaments, or strands together. In still other embodiments, the textilemay be leather, foam, synthetic equivalents of leather, or single sheetmaterials such as plastic or vinyl sheets. In still further embodiments,an article may be a backing layer.

The materials of backing layers may vary. Backing sheets may be used asan anti-abrasion layer and may be made of a material soft to the skin,such as silk or cotton, as well as synthetics like equivalents such asnylon, or foam materials. Backing sheets may be used to prevent anarticle from stretching during embroidery and may be used from a hardermore rigid substance, such as a sheet made from TPU, PVA, or EVA.Backing layers may also be made from a fusible material such as EV, or adissolvable material such as TPU, PVA, or EVA. Furthermore, backingsheets may combine various materials for different purposes fordifferent sections. For example, a rigid dissolvable backing materialmay be used in combination with a soft permanent backing layer.

Some embodiments may include beads comprised of materials including atleast one hot melt material. A hot melt material, or hot melt adhesivematerial, may be any material that may be melted and is tacky when hot.Hot melt materials may be provided in solid form, then can be heated tobecome tacky and bond with other materials, or to bond two or morematerials together as an adhesive.

Exemplary materials that may be used as part of a hot melt materialinclude, but are not limited to, ethylene-vinyl acetates, polyolefins,polyamides and polyesters, polyurethanes, styrene block copolymers,polycarbonates, fluoropolymers, silicone rubbers, etc. In someembodiments, a hot melt material could include, or consist of,thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). Moreover, it may be appreciated that ahot melt material could comprise various combinations of the materialslisted here, as well as combinations with still other materials. Thespecific materials used may be selected to achieve desired properties,such as a desired glass transition temperature, degree ofcrystallization, melt viscosity, crystallization rate, desired level oftackiness, color, resistance to water or other solvents, as well aspossibly other factors.

It may be appreciated that a hot melt material can be used as anadhesive in some cases, or as a compound that can be molded with heat inother cases. For example, in some embodiments, a hot melt can be used toform various structural elements by melting beads into a desiredgeometry and cooling the hot melt.

Beads can be attached to substrate materials using any of theprinciples, methods, systems, and teachings disclosed in any of thefollowing applications: Kurihara, U.S. Pat. No. 5,481,993, issued Jan.9, 1996, and titled “Method and Apparatus for Embroidering Beads,” aswell as Tajima et al., U.S. Patent Publication Number 2006/0011116,published Jan. 19, 2006, and titled “Sequin Feeder,” the entirety ofthese applications being herein incorporated by reference.

Differing embodiments may utilize differing substrate layers toembroider beads as a structural component. In some embodiments, thesubstrate layer is an article of apparel. In other embodiments, thesubstrate layer is an article of footwear. In further embodiments, thesubstrate layer is for an accessory. In yet additional embodiments, thesubstrate layer is a backing layer. In some embodiments, the substratelayer is merely a portion of an article of apparel, article of footwear,accessory, and/or backing layer.

The structures and materials described herein can be used to provideadditional materials and components in different embodiments. Someimplementations can be configured for use in articles such as clothingaccessories or articles of apparel. For example, the embodimentsdisclosed herein can be incorporated into any type of shirt, such as ashort-sleeved shirt, a long-sleeved shirt, a t-shirt, a hooded shirt, anundershirt, a sweater, a sweat shirt, or any garment that is worn on thetorso, as well as other articles of apparel, including but not limitedto, jeans, pants, sweatpants, a jacket, a coat, a uniform, rain gear, avest, outerwear, a tank top, a robe, an under garment, a necktie,suspenders, socks, shoes, boots, skippers, sandals, a scarf, a jersey,an athletic uniform, gloves, mittens, stockings, pajamas, a night shirt,a skirt, a belt, a cap, a baseball cap, a hat, a visor, a head band, asweatband, ear muffs, bandanas, and bibs. In addition, embodiments canbe utilized to form bags, purses, blankets, bedding, or other suchaccessories.

Furthermore, some embodiments may be configured for use in articles offootwear, for example, where some implementations may be configured tobe used for various kinds of footwear including, but not limited to,hiking boots, soccer shoes, football shoes, sneakers, running shoes,cross-training shoes, rugby shoes, basketball shoes, baseball shoes aswell as other kinds of shoes. Moreover, in some embodiments, componentsmay be configured for various kinds of non-sports-related footwear,including, but not limited to, slippers, sandals, high-heeled footwear,loafers as well as any other kinds of footwear.

In order to further customize or individualize an article, such as anarticle of footwear, the present disclosure provides various methods offorming various layers, substrates, or members that can be used inarticles of footwear or other articles as noted above. For example,discrete elements such as beads can be fused together to merge and forma larger structure that can be used in different types of articles ofapparel, including articles of footwear. In some embodiments, a singlelayer of discrete beads can be deposited and fused together to form aunitary piece or continuous structure. The beads can be disposedadjacent to one another or atop of each other and then exposed to heatand/or pressure in a curing process to join the beads together.Referring to FIG. 3 , first step 4002 of the present method comprisesstitching a plurality of beads to a substrate layer, or substrate,forming a bead-substrate assembly. In second step 4004, thebead-substrate assembly is exposed to heat and/or pressure in order tofuse together the plurality of beads. In some embodiments, the beads canbe configured to expand as they are heated or cured. As the beads arefused together, the plurality of beads can transition from a pluralityof discrete elements to form a substantially continuous member in someembodiments. In one embodiment, the beads can comprise foam pellets thatcan be fused together to form a unitary foam member. In otherembodiments, each of the beads can include a range of materials, asdescribed earlier.

Referring to the flow chart of FIG. 4 , another method of making a typeof foam structure is illustrated. In first step 4006, a plurality ofbeads is stitched to distinct portions or regions of a substrate layer,or substrate, forming a bead-substrate assembly. In second step 4008,the distinct portions are arranged to form a multilayer member. In somecases, additional beads can be disposed or placed above at least some ofthe plurality of beads that were stitched to the substrate in first step4006, forming regions with at least two layers of beads. In someembodiments, the additional beads can be stitched to a second substrate.In another embodiment, additional materials can be added to themultilayer member, adjacent to the beads or substrate, or above or belowthe beads. In third step 4010, the multilayer member is placed orotherwise disposed in a finishing mold. It should be understood that insome other embodiments, the bead-substrate assembly can be built orassembled directly within a finishing mold. In fourth step 4012, themultilayer member is exposed to heat and/or pressure in order to fusetogether the plurality of beads and/or the substrate layer. In someembodiments, the beads can be configured to expand as they are heated.As the beads are fused together, the plurality of beads and othermaterials can transition or form into a unified foam member in someembodiments.

In addition, it should be understood that the various stitching andpost-processing steps used with respect to the exemplary processes ofFIGS. 3 and 4 can make use of any of the methods, processes, systems,devices, and/or components described previously in this application forembroidering or otherwise stitching beads to a substrate or other layer.

In order to provide greater clarity with respect to the disclosedembodiments, FIGS. 5-10 illustrate some examples of the steps describedabove. In FIG. 5 , substrate layer 4014 is shown. Substrate layer 4014can comprise any type of material that is used to provide a foundation,support, base, underpinning, or layer upon which one or more discreteelements can be positioned. For example, in one embodiment, substratelayer 4014 can include a type of water-soluble synthetic polymer towhich beads can be attached. Also shown in FIG. 5 is plurality of beads4015. Plurality of beads 4015 can include any number or type of beads.Thus, the number of beads comprising plurality of beads 4015 can varywidely in number, and include at least one bead to hundreds or thousandsof beads or more.

In FIG. 5 , for purposes of reference, plurality of beads 4015 comprisesfirst set of beads (“first bead set”) 4016, second set of beads (“secondbead set”) 4018, and third set of beads (“third bead set”) 4020. Itshould be understood that first bead set 4016, second bead set 4018, andthird bead set 4020, etc., are indicated schematically in the figuresusing different kinds of fills. For purposes of simplicity, it will beunderstood that the beads of first bead set 4016 are substantiallysimilar to one another, the beads of second bead set 4018 aresubstantially similar to one another, and the beads of third bead set4020 are substantially similar to one another. Thus, referring to themagnified view of FIG. 5 , first bead 4022 and second bead 4024 shouldbe understood to be substantially similar in size, material composition,geometry, and other structural properties. Similarly, third bead 4026and fourth bead 4028 are substantially similar in size, materialcomposition, geometry, and other structural properties. However, as willbe described further below, one or more beads of plurality of beads 4015can differ also from one other. For purposes of illustration, the beadscomprising first bead set 4016 differ from the beads of second bead set4018 and/or third bead set 4020. Similarly, beads comprising second beadset 4018 can differ from beads of third bead set 4020. In otherembodiments, however, plurality of beads 4015 arranged on substratelayer 4014 may consist of a substantially similar or uniform set ofbeads.

Thus, as noted in FIGS. 3 and 4 , plurality of beads 4015 can bestitched or otherwise secured or attached to substrate layer 4014,forming bead-substrate assembly 4030. Each bead can be individuallyembroidered to the substrate, and additional beads can be embroidered tothe same substrate, adjacent to the previously secured beads, or in alocation that is spaced apart from the previously secured beads.Depending on the desired preferences, user morphology, expected use,physical needs, comfort, and other such data, the location of eachindividual bead placement can vary widely, as well as the selection ofthe individual bead and its associated properties. For example, beadswith a greater hardness or rigidity can be arranged along the peripheryof the substrate, while beads with a lesser hardness (or greatersoftness) can be arranged closer to the center of the substrate. Oncethe beads are selected and arranged on the substrate as desired, thebead-substrate assembly can be exposed to heat and/or pressure in orderto fuse the beads together. In some embodiments, one or more beads canbe pre-expanded or pre-blown to some extent, such that the expansionthat occurs upon application of heat and/or pressure is not assignificant but remains substantial enough to permit adequate fusing ofadjacent beads.

In some implementations, a finishing mold can be utilized duringmanufacture (not shown). In some embodiments, the substrate can bedisposed in a mold while beads are deposited upon and secured to thesubstrate. In other embodiments, the beads can be deposited upon andsecured to the substrate, and the bead-substrate assembly, such as theone shown in FIG. 5 , can be placed into a mold. Once the beads havebeen positioned along the substrate and the bead-substrate assemblyplaced in the mold, heat and/or pressure is applied. After the curingprocess, a single, continuous foam layer can be removed from the mold.In other words, the individual bead arrangement can transition into acontinuous or unitary component layer.

As described earlier, in order to produce the bead-substrate assembly,different types of beads can be extruded or deposited on a substrate.For example, foam beads or pellets can be released one at a time anddisposed onto the substrate. In some embodiments, a bead can be releasedfrom a chute or hopper. In another embodiment, the bead can be depositedfrom a wheel, or other releasing device. In other embodiments, the beadscan be pre-strung along the stitching thread, ribbon, or othercontinuous member, and then positioned in the desired location on thesubstrate.

Each bead can be placed onto the substrate in a precise manner, suchthat when the beads are cured or blown, they each expand within acertain predetermined dimension. In some exemplary embodiments, thebeads are initially deposited in the unblown or uncured state to ensurethey have certain uniform characteristics and the expansion propertiesare predictable. In other embodiments, however, the beads may bepartially blown prior to being deposited on the substrate.

Once the bead has been deposited in the desired location, the bead canbe stitched directly to the substrate. In some implementations, one ormore of the beads can include an aperture or through-hole, which canfacilitate the process of embroidering the bead to the substrate. Forexample, the bead can be deposited on the substrate, with the apertureor opening on one end of the bead, and a needle can be inserted directlyinto the opening to stitch the bead to the substrate. In someembodiments, a bead can be tipped onto its side after being stitched,such that the length of the bead extending between the two ends of thebead associated with the openings extend longitudinally rather thanvertically.

Furthermore, in some cases, the beads may be pre-formed or somewhatpre-expanded, and have a softness sufficient to permit insertion of astitch through the material of the bead. Thus, in some embodiments,beads may be stitched to the substrate without a pre-formed hole in thebead for receiving a securing fiber. Similarly, in some embodiments, thedimensions of the beads can be relatively thin and permit embroiderydirectly through the bead and to the substrate to keep the bead inplace. In one embodiment, a bead may comprise dimensions of 4×6 mm.Other implementations may utilize beads that are smaller or larger than4×6 mm. Once the bead is secured to the substrate, the next bead may bedeposited and secured.

In some embodiments, substrate layer 4014 and/or securing fibers cancomprise a material that dissolves after curing. For example, thesubstrate layer may include a PVA that dissolves or otherwise is removedduring or after the curing process. Similarly, the securing fibers caninclude a TPU thread that can melt during the curing process and bejoined to the fused bead material. In other embodiments, substrate layerand/or securing fibers can comprise a material that melts during theprocess of curing and merges to become part of the final structure. Inanother embodiment, substrate layer 4014 and/or securing fibers can atleast partially remain intact and distinct from the surrounding foam.For example, in one embodiment, the securing fibers can provide a meshor other type of supporting network that extends through the solecomponent, providing additional reinforcement to the structure. Thus,the mesh in some cases could be integrated/become monolithic with theresulting foam structure after processing, or may stay distinct toprovide additional strength/tension.

Furthermore, in different embodiments, two or more bead-substrateassemblies can also be stacked or assembled in a collection or pile toprovide a multilayer bead-substrate assembly (“multilayer assembly”).Referring to FIG. 6 , first assembly 4042, second assembly 4044, thirdassembly 4046, fourth assembly 4048, and fifth assembly 4050 areillustrated, comprising multi-layer assembly 4052. It can be seen thateach assembly has a particular bead arrangement. In other words, thebead arrangement of first assembly 4042 differs from the beadarrangement of the other four assemblies. For purposes of thisdisclosure, bead arrangement refers to the pattern with which individualbeads have been located on a substrate as well as the type of bead thatwas selected to be included in the pattern. Thus, two similarly shapedand sized substrates may have substantially similar patterns, but ifdifferent bead types are used in the two patterns, then the beadarrangement is understood to differ.

In FIG. 6 , multi-layer assembly 4052 is in an arrayed formation, suchthat each assembly is shown from a top-down or bottom-up perspective.Furthermore, it can be seen that in the implementation of FIG. 6 , theindividual assemblies of the multilayer assembly are linked in such amanner so as to allow an accordion dynamic or fanfold dynamic to themultilayer assembly. For example, first assembly 4042 is attached tosecond assembly 4044 along first anchor region 4054 and second anchorregion 4056. In other embodiments, an assembly may be attached, linked,or otherwise secured to an adjacent assembly along only one point, oralong additional points. The accordion-like arrangement is betterunderstood with reference to FIG. 7 , where multi-layer assembly 4052 isin the process of being folded, such that each assembly layer becomesstacked against the neighboring assembly, as shown in FIG. 8 . It can beunderstood that with respect to bead substrate assemblies configured assoles for footwear, the accordion arrangement can alternate each of thebead-substrate assemblies such that one assembly is oriented in alateral-medial direction and the adjacent assembly is oriented in amedial-lateral direction, and so forth. Thus, when the assemblies arestacked and form stacked assembly 4060, as shown in FIG. 8 , the overallorientation of the three-dimensional structure is aligned along themedial-lateral axis. This process of fan folding can ensure that each ofthe layers and corresponding bead arrangements of stacked assembly 4060are oriented correctly relative to one another when the stacking processoccurs. After the multilayer assembly is stacked and the various beadsare disposed adjacent to one another (across a single layer, along thehorizontal plane) and above and/or below one another (across multiplelayers, along the vertical plane), as depicted in the cross section ofFIG. 8 , the three-dimensional structure can be placed into a mold forcuring.

However, in other implementations, the individual layers comprising themultilayer assembly need not be attached to one another prior to curing.Referring to FIG. 9 , each bead-substrate assembly can be individuallyproduced as described earlier and then positioned one above the other.In other words, the stacking process need not be only a result of anaccordion dynamic between each of the neighboring bead-substrateassemblies. Thus, as shown in FIG. 10 , the individual (unlinked)bead-substrate assemblies can be stacked atop one another to form athree-dimensional structure where the various beads are disposedadjacent to one another (across a single layer, along the horizontalplane) and above and/or below one another (across multiple layers, alongthe vertical plane). Once stacked, the three-dimensional structure canbe placed into a mold for curing. In some embodiments, the beadsassociated with each layer can be color-coded to align with other layersof the multi-layer assembly. For example, beads with a first cushioninglevel can be colored a first color, and beads with a second cushioninglevel can be colored a second color. Thus, as the layers are stacked,the various regions of cushioning can be noted or registered visually,and oriented to color-match each region.

FIG. 10 also illustrates another variation on the arrangement of beadsbetween adjacent stacked layers. In contrast to the regular arrangementof beads shown in FIG. 8 , FIG. 10 depicts an embodiment where beads inadjacent rows are staggered. For example, in FIG. 10 , a first bead 4080in a first row 4082 is disposed between second bead 4084 and third bead4086 in a second row 4088, where “between” here is with respect to ahorizontal or widthwise direction. In other embodiments, beads could bestaggered in any other manner. In some cases, staggering beads mayreduce the open spaces between beads in the stacked structure and reducethe tendency of air pockets to be formed in the final midsole structure.

Referring to FIG. 11 , a top-down view of multi-layer assembly 4052 isshown, and in FIG. 12 a cross-sectional view of multi-layer assembly4052 is provided. In addition, a side view of multi-layer assembly 4052is shown in FIG. 13 . In different embodiments, different regions of thethree-dimensional structure may include different bead arrangements. Forexample, in some embodiments, each part of the sole member can beassociated with a different number of bead-substrate assemblies. In theexample of FIGS. 11 and 13 , it can be seen that forefoot region 4110has three layers, midfoot region 4120 has four layers, and heel region4130 has five layers. Such a method can provide a gradated footwearcomponent, with gradual changes in properties such as cushioning,reinforcement, support, and other such properties. This is alsorepresented by FIGS. 6 and 9 , where it is shown that different layerscan include differently sized or dimensioned bead-substrate assemblies,so that when the assemblies are stacked into the multilayer assembly,some regions may have a greater thickness relative to other regions. Insome embodiments, each layer can have a thickness of approximately 4 mm.In other embodiments, one or more layers can have a thickness of 1 mm to4 mm. In another embodiment, a layer can have a thickness greater than 4mm. The thickness of a bead-substrate assembly can also vary within asingle layer. Thus, depending on the type of beads used in one region,one portion of the layer can be thicker than another portion of the samelayer. For example, beads of greater expansion potential or size can bedisposed in one region (e.g., the heel region) while beads with lesserexpansion potential or size can be disposed in a second, differentregion (e.g., the forefoot region) along the same layer.

In different embodiments, additional bead types can be used that canmore substantially affect the various structural properties andcharacteristics of the foam member. For example, in someimplementations, “microbeads” or beads with significantly greaterdensity, such as ceramic or acrylic beads, can be deposited onto thesubstrate and surrounded by other, softer beads, or alternatively, othersofter materials, such as textiles or fabric. This can allow themanufacture of higher abrasion-resistance shoe regions, such as footwearfor basketball or skateboarding, where uppers can maintain theirsock-like feel, but include much more resilient materials throughout thefoam. The inclusion of high-density beads into a material allows forincreased abrasion resistance while retaining some flexibility for theregion.

Furthermore, it should be understood that other implementations caninclude bead arrangements providing any type of pattern desired. Forexample, there may be a uniformity to the cushioning provided by thebeads throughout the entirety of the sole member, or the forefoot regionand midfoot region can be substantially similar while the heel regionincludes relatively greater rigidity or thickness. In other words, theproperties of the sole member can be customized across a spectrum ofproperties, features, and dimensions. In one example, a sole member maybe formed comprising a “frame” structure, where harder or more rigidbeads are arranged along the perimeter while softer beads are locatedtoward the central region of the same sole member (see the cross sectionof FIG. 11 ). Thus, a first user who is a “heel striker” can request themanufacture of a sole member with greater cushioning in the heel area,while another (second) user can request a more rigid heel region.Alternatively, the first user may over time desire a sole member with amore rigid heel, and request an update to the sole member in which thereare more beads in the heel region that are harder than in the previouslymanufactured sole member. Such requests can also be associated with footscans or pressure mapping, which can occur on-site with themanufacturing apparatus and materials, or can be submitted from a remotelocation to the manufacturer. Thus, a wide variety of materials orportions associated with an article of footwear such as midsoles,sockliners, collars, ankle protectors, uppers, outsoles, tongues,braces, and other such components can be customized and manufacturedusing the disclosed methods, as well as materials for other articles ofapparel. In addition, customization and changes to the bead arrangementscan result from direct requests from a customer citing various personalpreferences, and/or biomechanic feedback or data, the need for aparticular directionality of movement (orientation of flexibility orregions of bending relative to regions or orientations of stiffness),and other such information.

In addition, as noted above, a single finishing mold can be used formanufacturing widely differing sole members. Thus, a first sole memberwith a first structural type (e.g., a first cushioning type in the heelregion) and a second sole member with a second structural type (e.g., asecond cushioning type in the heel region that is different from thefirst cushioning type) can be manufactured using the same mold. In otherwords, two or more sole members with differing internal structures canbe produced through the same mold. Each sole member can be customized atthe “voxel” level, where single beads with specific characteristics canbe secured to the substrate to provide the desired properties in thedesired regions of the sole member (or other articles of apparel). Thismethod can provide significant benefits, including lowered productioncosts, less tooling, greater efficiency in the use of materials, lesswaste, rapid production time, greater portability, and easycustomization. Because only one mold is needed, the manufacturingapparatus can be minimal, and may be readily made available in retailoutlets, for example. Thus, a customer can be given access to adifferent type of customization process, where sole members can bemanufactured, feedback can be submitted to the manufacturer, and newsole members can be produced using the same molds. The customizationwould be linked to the type and number of beads deposited in a specificvoxel area, rather than through the mold. Once any portion of the beadarrangement is changed, the sole member will have a different materialcomposition.

As noted above, once the multilayer assembly has been stacked andpositioned within a mold, heat and/or pressure can be applied to thestacked multilayer assembly to activate and expand the beads. In FIG. 14, one example of a sole member is shown, in which the plurality of beadshave been fused together, producing a unitary, solid, or continuous solemember 4140. As an illustration, the different bead types can be seen tohave fused to form different regions associated with varying structuralproperties. Thus, the first bead type (see FIG. 5 ) has fused to form acontinuous first region 4160, the second bead type (see FIG. 5 ) hasfused to form a continuous second region 4170, and the third bead type(see FIG. 6 ) has fused to form a continuous third region 4150. Itshould be understood that FIG. 14 is for purposes of illustration only,and the various bead types can be intermingled, such that distinct beadtype regions are not present, but rather a continuous blend or mergedregion of different beads is provided. In other words, the resultantfoam member will have properties and regions dependent on the initialdeposition arrangement of beads and the types of beads selected. In atleast some embodiments, the resulting foam member is comprised of fusedbeads, with the continuous regions described above comprising variousfused bead regions.

The methods described herein for making sole components could also beused to make other kinds of pads, cushioning elements, and/or foamelements that could be incorporated into soles, apparel, and/orequipment. As an example, in some embodiments, a shin guard could beconstructed by forming multiple layers of embroidered beads that couldbe folded or stacked together to form a padded component for a shinguard. In some embodiments, multiple layers of embroidered beads couldbe formed in a fan-fold configuration similar to the configuration shownin FIG. 6 for constructing beaded soles. The layers could then be foldedtogether to form a multilayered component.

In some embodiments, the layers can be constructed so that outer layersare formed using beads of a harder material while inner layers areformed using beads of a relatively softer material to promotecushioning. Once folded into a stacked arrangement, the beads in theembroidered layers could be exposed to heat and/or pressure to fuse thebeads into a single component. Again, this process may be similar to themanner that the multiple layers of embroidered beads shown in FIG. 6 arefolded and then heated to fuse the beads and form sole member 4140,which is shown in FIG. 14 . In some embodiments, one or more kinds offoam beads could be used so that the resulting shin guard is made offoam.

In some embodiments, the multiple embroidered layers could be formedintegrally with the sock (i.e., the embroidered flaps could beintegrally formed as the sock is being knitted or woven). An example ofsuch a construction is shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 . Specifically, article5000 (i.e., a sock) may be manufactured with extending portion 5002 thatmay configured as multiple panels of material 5004. In some embodiments,beads (not shown) could be embroidered onto the panels of material 5004to form multiple bead-substrate assemblies. These assemblies could thenbe folded and stitched together before or after processing the beads toform a solid foam component. Thus, as seen in FIG. 18 , this processallows for efficiently manufacturing article 5000 with an integratedshin-guard 5006.

It may also be appreciated that this method of forming a shin guardusing fan-folded layers (or other stacked layers) could be used to makeany kinds of pads or cushioning elements for use in various kinds ofarticles. Moreover, the pads or cushioning elements could be separatelyformed and then attached (i.e., stitched) to an article, or could beintegrally formed with the article as the article is made (e.g., to thesleeves, the elbows, etc. of a garment as the garment is knitted, woven,or otherwise made).

Referring now to the flow chart of FIG. 15 , another method of making atype of foam structure is illustrated. In first step 4210, a pluralityof a first type of bead is stitched in a first pattern to a substratelayer. In second step 4220, a plurality of a second type of bead isstitched in a second pattern to a substrate layer. Additional steps caninclude further substrate layers and beads being stitched together, andcollecting or stacking the various layers together to form a multilayerassembly. In third step 4230, the bead-substrate assembly (or multilayerassembly) is exposed to heat and/or pressure in order to fuse togetherthe plurality of beads and/or the substrate layer. The curing processforms a foam member with different properties in locations correspondingwith the first bead type and the second bead type. Thus, as notedearlier, different portions of the sole member can comprise differentproperties through the use of different bead types in particularlocations of the assembly.

Referring to the flow chart of FIG. 16 , another method of making astructure comprising a foam member as described above is illustrated. Infirst step 4310, a plurality of beads is stitched to a portion of anarticle of footwear. In second step 4320, the bead-substrate assembly(or multilayer assembly) is exposed to heat and/or pressure in order tofuse together the plurality of beads and form a foam member that isbonded to the article of footwear. For example, a pattern of beads maybe deposited on a lower surface of an upper, an interior cavity of theupper, or a portion of the sole structure. When fused, the beads canprovide a seamless, continuous foam member directly bonded to the upperor sole structure. In one implementation, a multilayer assembly couldextend upward or outward and pattern the outer edges of an upper. Forexample, some of the layers comprising the sole member could includeportions of bead substrate that extend up and around the medial orlateral (or forward-most or rear-most) side of the upper and be fused tobond directly to the upper.

Furthermore, embodiments can include provisions for customizing anarticle according to various user preferences, user measurements, orother custom parameters. Examples of user preferences include, but arenot limited to, preferences for cushioning levels in an article,preferences for breathability in an article, preferences for comfort inan article as well as other kinds of preferences. Examples of custommeasurements include, but are not limited to, foot measurements, footpressure maps, as well as other kinds of custom measurements. Otherkinds of custom parameters include the design of an article, includingboth aesthetic and functional characteristics of the article.

FIG. 19 is a schematic view of a process for creating a customizedarticle using the various methods and systems discussed above, accordingto an embodiment. In first step 4990, information related to custominput is received. This information could be received from a variety ofsources. Exemplary sources include, for example, foot pressure scanners,optical devices for sensing information about a foot or other part ofthe body (for a garment or other article), as well as other sources ofinformation. In some embodiments, custom input information could becollected from forms (including online forms) where customers enterpreferences or other kinds of custom information.

In second step 4992, the pattern and/or type of beads may be determinedbased on at least some of the custom input. As an example, if the custominput is a pressure map of a user's foot, the pattern and types of beadsmay be selected to achieve a cushioning profile that best matches thespecific pressure map of the foot. In third step 4994, a designcomprising multiple layers with customized patterns can be generated. Insome cases, these designs may be created by a computer, for example. Insome cases, these designs can be manually created by a worker. Thecustomized patterns may specify the type and location of each bead ineach layer.

Next, in step 4996 beads may be stitched to a substrate in a manner thatforms the customized layers. Next, in step 4998 the layers could beassembled together (e.g., stacked or folded together as previouslydescribed). Finally, in step 4999, the assembly of customized layers canbe processed (e.g., heated) to form a customized midsole with a densityprofile that is unique and determined by the custom input informationreceived in step 4990.

It may be appreciated that these steps of customization can be used withany of the manufacturing methods described elsewhere in the presentapplication. For example, this method could be used to providecustomized abrasion-resistance regions on an article. This could beachieved by observing wear patterns in a user's articles and customdesigning abrasion-resistance regions to be applied in the high wearregions. The abrasion-resistance region could be achieved by applyingabrasion-resistant beads as described previously. As another example,this method could be used to provide customized cushioning in a midsole.This could be achieved by inputting a pressure map of a user's foot anddesigning a midsole with a unique cushioning profile according to thepressure map. The midsole could then be created using the methodsdescribed previously.

While various embodiments have been described, the description isintended to be exemplary, rather than limiting, and it will be apparentto those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments andimplementations are possible that are within the scope of theembodiments. Although many possible combinations of features are shownin the accompanying figures and discussed in this detailed description,many other combinations of the disclosed features are possible. Anyfeature of any embodiment may be used in combination with or substitutedfor any other feature or element in any other embodiment unlessspecifically restricted. Therefore, it will be understood that any ofthe features shown and/or discussed in the present disclosure may beimplemented together in any suitable combination. Accordingly, theembodiments are not to be restricted except in light of the attachedclaims and their equivalents. Also, various modifications and changesmay be made within the scope of the attached claims.

What is claimed is: 1-20. (canceled)
 21. An article of apparel,comprising: a substrate layer; a plurality of fused beads attached tothe substrate layer; the plurality of fused beads including a first setof fused beads and a second set of beads arranged in a pattern, whereineach fused bead of the first set of fused beads is substantially similarto each other and wherein each fused bead of the second set of fusedbeads is substantially similar to each other; wherein the plurality offused beads are fused together and form a unitary structure; and whereinthe first set of fused beads and the second set of fused beads havedifferent structural properties.
 22. The article of apparel according toclaim 21, wherein the article of apparel comprises a first region offused beads secured to the substrate layer and a second region of fusedbeads sewn to the substrate layer; and wherein a density of the firstregion of fused beads is different from the density of the second regionof fused beads.
 23. The article of apparel according to claim 22,wherein the first region of fused beads is disposed along a perimeter ofthe article of apparel, wherein the second region of fused beads isdisposed inwardly of the first region of fused beads, and wherein thefirst region of fused beads is denser than the second region of fusedbeads.
 24. The article of apparel according to claim 22, wherein thebeads in the first region of fused beads are arranged end-to-end,wherein the beads in the second region of fused beads are arrangedend-to-end, and wherein the first region of fused beads is continuouswith the second region of fused beads.
 25. The article of apparelaccording to claim 21, wherein the plurality of fused beads are arrangedon the substrate later in a pattern based on custom input information,and wherein the pattern comprises a line, a curve, an oval, a letter anumber or a symbol.
 26. The article of apparel according to claim 25,wherein the article of apparel is a midsole and the custom inputinformation is a pressure map of a user's foot.
 27. The article ofapparel according to claim 25, wherein the first set of fused beads andthe second set of fused beads are selected based on a cushioning profileassociated with the custom input information.
 28. The article of apparelaccording to claim 25, wherein the plurality of fused beads form acustomized midsole that is customized at a voxel level corresponding toa single fused bead.
 29. An article of apparel, comprising: a pluralityof fused beads including a first layer of fused beads and a second layerof fused beads, the first layer of fused beads arranged in a firstpattern and secured to a first substrate layer, and the second layer offused beads arranged in a second pattern and secured to a secondsubstrate layer separate from the first substrate layer; wherein thefirst substrate layer and the second substrate layer are disposed in astacked arrangement such that the second layer of fused beads secured tothe second substrate layer is disposed above the first layer of fusedbeads secured to the first substrate layer; and wherein the first layerof fused beads and the second layer of fused beads form a unified solemember.
 30. The article of apparel according to claim 29, wherein thefirst layer of fused beads includes at least one fused bead of a firsttype and at least one fused bead of a second type; wherein the secondlayer of fused beads includes at least one fused bead of the first typeand at least one fused bead of the second type; and wherein the firsttype of fused bead and the second type of fused bead have differentstructural properties.
 31. The article of apparel according to claim 30,wherein the article of apparel is a sole member, and wherein the atleast one fused bead of the first type of the first layer and the atleast one fused bead of the first type of the second layer are locatedin a first region of the sole member.
 32. The article of apparelaccording to claim 31, wherein the at least one fused bead of the secondtype of the first layer and the at least one fused bead of the secondtype of the second layer are located in a second region of the solemember, wherein the second region is different than the first region.33. The article of apparel according to claim 32, wherein the first typeof fused bead and the second type of fused bead are selected based oncustom input information associated with a user's foot.
 34. The articleof apparel according to claim 32, wherein the first region is disposedalong an outer perimeter of the sole member; wherein the second regionis disposed inwardly of the first region; and wherein the first type offused bead is denser than the second type of fused bead.
 35. The articleof apparel according to claim 29, wherein at least one of the firstsubstrate layer and the second substrate layer comprises a mesh; andwherein the mesh provides reinforcement to the unified sole member. 36.A gradated footwear component, comprising: a first plurality of fusedbeads arranged in a first bead pattern and secured to a substrate layerin a first region of the gradated footwear component; and a secondplurality of fused beads arranged in a second bead pattern and securedto the substrate layer n a second region of the gradated footwearcomponent; and wherein the first plurality of fused beads and the secondplurality of fused beads are fused together and form the gradatedfootwear component as a unitary structure such that at least oneproperty of the gradated footwear component caries between the firstregion and the second region.
 37. The gradated footwear component ofclaim 36, wherein the at least one property of the gradated footwearcomponent is associated with cushioning; and wherein the first beadpattern is associated with a first thickness in the first region; andwherein the second bead pattern is associated with a second thickness inthe second region, the second thickness being greater than the firstthickness.
 38. The gradated footwear component of claim 37, wherein thefirst bead pattern includes a first number of layers of the firstplurality of fused beads and the second bead pattern includes a secondnumber of layers of the second plurality of fused beads, the secondnumber being greater than the first number.
 39. The gradated footwearcomponent of claim 37, wherein the first plurality of fused beadsincludes a first type of bead and the second plurality of fused beadsincludes a second type of bead; and wherein the second type of bead hasa greater expansion size than the first type of bead.
 40. The gradatedfootwear component of claim 37, wherein the first bead pattern and thesecond bead pattern are selected based on a cushioning profileassociated with custom input information of a user's foot.